[AICS Membership Roster] [AICS Meeting Rosters]

The Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the Cardiovascular System (AICS) Study Section reviews applications concerned with inflammation of the vascular system with a focus on atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease.  Effects of major risk factors such as diabetes, aging, and smoking on the vasculature are of interest.  This study section will review applications on the pathobiology of the blood vessels leading to atherogenesis, its reversal and prevention. A major contributor to atherogenesis is hyperlipidemia, involving transport and metabolism of cholesterol, lipoproteins and their oxidation derivatives.  Specific areas covered by AICS:

• Immune mechanisms in vascular inflammation; cytokines, chemokines; lymphocyte-endothelial interactions; monocyte subsets; macrophages and T-cell activation and regulation.
• Lipoprotein oxidation and metabolism; structure and function of apolipoproteins, lipid-metabolizing enzymes and receptors; cholesterol transport and reverse transport; scavenger receptors and ABC transporters; apoproteins B, E and A-1; gene expression and regulation.
• Atherosclerosis progression and regression; HDL and atheroprotection; lipoprotein interactions with vascular cells and matrix components; foam cell formation; plaque stability and thrombosis; shear stress and cell signaling.
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), eNOS and NO in vascular  injury and endothelial dysfunction; effects of environmental toxins and nutritional components on vascular pathologies.
• Therapeutic strategies; cellular and and animal models for atherosclerosis, restenosis, hyperlipidemia, vascular inflammation, vascular injury, diabetes, autoimmune myocarditis, abdominal aortic aneurysms and vascular calcification

Study sections with most closely related areas of similar science listed in rank order are:

Vascular Cell and Molecular Biology [VCMB]  
Clinical and Integrative Cardiovascular Sciences [CICS] 
Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Processes [INMP] 
Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity [CADO]